Gents - BOOKRAY -
Registered by YowlYY on 9/30/2005
7 journalers for this copy...
Kirkus Reviews
Collins, author of The Rationalist (1994), a Booker contender, shows himself once again to be a daring, unconventional, accomplished writer, with a quirky story of the life and times of a London public toilet.
Ez Murphy, far from his Jamaican home, is glad to have any job in the white man's world, even if it's cleaning urinals and stalls. He takes his new job seriously, learning the ropes from his supervisor Reynolds and co-worker Jason, who, like him, have emigrated from Jamaica, but before long he discovers that not all the business in the stalls is what it should be. Ez's place of employment is also a popular spot for "cottaging," the euphemistic term for gay sex used by the white lady from the local Council, which runs the toilet, when she drops in to inform Reynolds and his crew that their cleaning duties now extend to the moral as well as the physical sphere. They oblige by installing a fake surveillance camera—and in a matter of weeks the toilet's turnstile receipts drop by half. Back comes the lady, to inform them that with the decline in income one of them now must be let go, a cold act of white hypocrisy in the face of a job too well done. This prompts Rastaman Jason, already stung by having found a black man servicing a white in the course of their clean-up, to quit and go back to Jamaica. Ez sticks it out with Reynolds, and when the Councilwoman returns yet again with the news that the toilet is to be closed, the two join meager resources to rent the place as their own business, keeping it open and returning it to prosperity by making a few eminently practical, and highly tolerant, decisions.
A deceptively simple tale with an unorthodox setting and near- zero commercial potential, Collins's novel covers considerable social ground in a brief span—and is eminently successful.
For my review, please go to this other copy.
Collins, author of The Rationalist (1994), a Booker contender, shows himself once again to be a daring, unconventional, accomplished writer, with a quirky story of the life and times of a London public toilet.
Ez Murphy, far from his Jamaican home, is glad to have any job in the white man's world, even if it's cleaning urinals and stalls. He takes his new job seriously, learning the ropes from his supervisor Reynolds and co-worker Jason, who, like him, have emigrated from Jamaica, but before long he discovers that not all the business in the stalls is what it should be. Ez's place of employment is also a popular spot for "cottaging," the euphemistic term for gay sex used by the white lady from the local Council, which runs the toilet, when she drops in to inform Reynolds and his crew that their cleaning duties now extend to the moral as well as the physical sphere. They oblige by installing a fake surveillance camera—and in a matter of weeks the toilet's turnstile receipts drop by half. Back comes the lady, to inform them that with the decline in income one of them now must be let go, a cold act of white hypocrisy in the face of a job too well done. This prompts Rastaman Jason, already stung by having found a black man servicing a white in the course of their clean-up, to quit and go back to Jamaica. Ez sticks it out with Reynolds, and when the Councilwoman returns yet again with the news that the toilet is to be closed, the two join meager resources to rent the place as their own business, keeping it open and returning it to prosperity by making a few eminently practical, and highly tolerant, decisions.
A deceptively simple tale with an unorthodox setting and near- zero commercial potential, Collins's novel covers considerable social ground in a brief span—and is eminently successful.
For my review, please go to this other copy.
This is now an international bookray. List of participants is:
- introoder (Roma, Italy)
- LindyLouMac (Vetralla, Italy)
- lizzyblack (Como, Italy)
- Theut (Milano, Italy)
- shandy (Liege, Belgium)<---- the book is here!
- MrsDanvers (Ely, UK)
- VLR (London, UK)
- Ikopiko (Hesel,Germany)
- ???
- introoder (Roma, Italy)
- LindyLouMac (Vetralla, Italy)
- lizzyblack (Como, Italy)
- Theut (Milano, Italy)
- shandy (Liege, Belgium)<---- the book is here!
- MrsDanvers (Ely, UK)
- VLR (London, UK)
- Ikopiko (Hesel,Germany)
- ???
The book just arrived, together with a fabulous piece of chocolate!! (thanks YowlYY).
Let me read it first... will post again soon!
Let me read it first... will post again soon!
Quite an amusing book, gracefully written, notwithstanding the 'delicate' topic i describes. I fou d the last chapter absolutely amusing, the essence of the real British understatement.
I must admit I also had fun trying to imagine the sound of the characters' patois.
And last, but not least, I finally understood what being a rasta means.
Very interesting book. It now continues its trip. Next stop at LindyLouMac's.
Enjoy!
I must admit I also had fun trying to imagine the sound of the characters' patois.
And last, but not least, I finally understood what being a rasta means.
Very interesting book. It now continues its trip. Next stop at LindyLouMac's.
Enjoy!
Arrived yesterday and it will be the next book I read, as soon as completed current title. Thanks to YowlYY and Introoder.
We have both read this already, hardly impressive as only 140 pages. Having read the reviews on this page we were both disappointed. It was ironic and humourous but it was also boring. Sorry it must be us as the critics and other bookcrossers seem to have enjoyed.
Will put in the post to lizzyblack tomorrow.
Will put in the post to lizzyblack tomorrow.
It's here in my hands :)
Well, I liked this book! I enjoied the way it introduces the idea of tolerance (or intolerance), and I found it funny as well, esp. when it shows the foreign accent of the characters (I must admit that my fave character is Martha, such a wise woman ;))
I'll take the book at the next MU to pass it to Theut. Thanx Gabry!
I'll take the book at the next MU to pass it to Theut. Thanx Gabry!
... and now, thx to Liz, Gents is here with me!
A beautiful, great, tender book! I really really appreciate it! The unusual plot, the foreign accent... well, I want to read all books Collins wrote :D
I'll send it to shandy tomorrow :)
I'll send it to shandy tomorrow :)
The book is here with me in Belgium!
arrivato a me da shandy. Farò proseguire il viaggio quanto prima.